Will make Delhi safe for civilians, says new police chief

New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) Bhim Sain Bassi, who took over as Delhi Police chief Wednesday, said his priority is to make Delhi safe for civilians, and added that he plans to revive the neighbourhood watch scheme.

Bassi, who assumed the charge of more than 80,000-strong police force, said: "My priority is to make Delhi safe for civilians."

As part of efforts to make Delhi safer, the neighbourhood watch scheme would be revived, said the 57-year-old Bassi who succeeded Neeraj Kumar in the sensitive office.

"It will be quite tough as one will have to go to the colonies and know their problems, but we will try to revive the scheme," he said in his first press conference.

Laying stress on the safety of women and children, the 1977 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer said he would treat women's and children's security with utmost priority, and also focus on cases of child snatching.

For women, Delhi Police would launch several schemes aimed to make women "feel safe at any place at any time".

Bassi also plans to smoothen the traffic problems. This will be among his priorities, he said.

To ease the traffic jams in the capital, he said he would coordinate with various agencies that look after roads, including the Public Works Department, and other organisations concerned.

The police would also coordinate with neighbouring states to control crime.

Tackling terrorism is also on the priority list, Bassi said, adding his aim is to "bring the fear of law into criminals and not of the police".

In order to make Delhi Police more approachable, he said the police force would be instructed to file FIRs for small thefts too. The police would hand over the FIR or a copy of the complaint to the person.

The police would also be instructed to inform the people regarding developments in their case.

Complaints of chain snatching would be registered without delay. In case the person is lying, he or she would be proceeded against as per the Indian Penal Code.

The problem with filing immediate complaints would be that number of FIRs would show a rise, but according to Bassi, it would help them see in which area what crimes are being reported.

"It will help in tackling crime," he said.

On the incident of stunt riding in the capital in which a teenager was killed, he said the stunt riders are not criminals, they are sinners. "We will challan their vehicles, and register cases under relevant sections."